Study on analyzing hepatic blood flow and evaluating degree of liver fibrosis in patients with liver cirrhosis by using CT perfusion

Objective To analyze hepatic blood flow and investigate of correlation between hepatic perfusion parameters by CT perfusion and the severity of liver fibrosis in patients with liver cirrhosis.Methods CT perfusion of liver was performed in 41 cases,including 21 patients with liver cirrhosis accordance with the Child-Pugh classification and 20 patients without liver disease(control group).CT scanning sections were obtained at a single-level including the liver,spleen,aorta,and portal vein,the attenuation of these organs was measured to draw time density curves to calculate the liver CT perfusion parameters.Results In control group,hepatic arterial perfusion(HAP),portal venous perfusion(PVP),total liver perfusion(TLP) was respectively(10.67±2.13)ml/(min·ml),(76.15±7.89)ml/(min·ml),(85.89±8.66)ml/(min·ml).And hepatic perfusion index(HPI) was(14.32±3.01)%.HAP,PVP and TLP in patients with liver cirrhosis was respectively(15.89±6.23)ml/(min·ml),(52.16±16.76)ml/(min·ml),(68.03±10.16)ml/(min·ml).And HPI was(26.19±12.96)%.PVP and TLP were decreased in patients with liver cirrhosis(P0.05),but HAP and HPI were increased(P0.05).And TBV and MTT were increased,but there were no significant differences in TBV and MTT between each groups(P0.05).HPI was closely related to the degree of fibrosis.Conclusion The parameters of CT perfusion significantly correlated with the severity of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.Quantitative measurement of hepatic blood flow by CT perfusion is useful for evaluation of the severity of fibrotic change.